THE  LIBPIARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


THE   COLLECTION  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINIANA 


C378 

UK3 

1838H 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00036721164 


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YALEDICTORY  ADDRESS, 

DELIVERED  TO  THE  STUDENTS  OF  THE 

JANUARY  21,  183§,  ^    -y.. 


WILLIAM   HOOPER, 

LATE  PROFESSOR  OF  ANCIENT  LANGUAGES 

IN  THAT  INSTITUTION, 
J^OW 

THEOLOGICAL  PROFESSOR  IN  THE  FURMAN  INSTITUTION, 

NEAR  AVINNSBORO',    S.  C. 


RALEIGH: 

PRINTED    AT    THE    OFFICE    OF    THE    RALEIGH    REGISTER. 

1§3S. 


^ 


Chapel  Hill,  January  24,  1838. 

REV.  SIR  : 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Students  of  the  University  of  Norlh- 
Caroiina,  the  undersigned  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  tender  you  their 
thanks  for  the  able  and  eloquent  Address,  delivered  before  them  on  the 
21st  inst.  and  to  request  of  you  a  copy  of  the  same  for  publication.  You 
will  add  another  to  the  many  obligations  under  which  we  already  lie,  by- 
complying  with  this  our  request. 

We  remain,  with  sentiments  of  respect  and  esteem, 
Yours  truly, 

D.  D.  FEREBEE, 
P.  E.  BRADLEY, 


J  AS.  SOMMERVILLE,     ''  ^'^™'"- 
WM.  M.  McPHEETERS 
To  the  Bev.  Win.  Hooper,  L  L  D. 


} 


GENTLEMEN  : 

The  Address,  whose  publication  you  request,  is  at  your 
service,  though  it  will  need  your  indulgence  and  that  of  the  public,  for 
its  want  of  unity  in  style  and  design.  You  know  it  was  expected  to  be 
delivered  on  an  evening  in  the  week  ;  but  circumstances  preventing,  and 
ray  last  opportunity  of  addressing  you  being  from  the  Pulpit,  it  was 
thought  best  to  combine  the  .Address  with  such  additions  as  would  ac- 
commodate it  to  the  more  sacred  occasion.  This,  it  is  hoped,  will  excuse 
its  mixed  character. 

I  remain,  with  the  be«t  wishes,  Gentlemen, 

Your  sincere  friend, 

W.  HOOPER, 


ADDRESS. 


Proverbs  i,  7-9. —  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning 
'''f  knoicledge  ;  but  fools  despise  icisdom  and  instruction. 
My  son,  hear  the  instruction  of  thy  father,  and  forsake  not 
the  laiv  of  thy  mother:  For  they  shall  be  an  ornament  of 
grace  unto  thy  head,  and  chains  about  thy  neck. 

It  is  an  inestimable  advantage  to  a  young  man  to 
Jiave  a  system  of  action.  Wlicn  this  is  tiie  case,  his 
course  will  be  uniform,  steady  and  consistent;  always 
governed  by  fixed  rules,  and  tending  towai'ds  the  great 
object  he  has  set  before  him.  But  the  misfortune  of 
jnost  young  men  is,  that  they  have  no  system  of  action — 
they  are  governed  by  impulse — they  love  pleasure  and 
they  yield  themselves  up  to  its  allurements.  The  next 
day  they  sec  their  error,  and  perhaps  feel  the  punish- 
ment of  it  in  sickness  or  in  remorse.  They  then  resolve 
to  amend  their  conduct,  and,  for  a  few  days,  they  are 
firm  in  their  purpose — they  tliink  they  can  depend  on 
the  stability  of  their  virttious  determinations.  But 
presently,  temjjtation  and  passion  return  with  all  their 
force,  and  they  find  to  their  sorrow  that  their  virtuous 
resolutions  are  no  more  a  match  against  the  depraved 
inclinations  of  nature  tlian  the  green  vvitiies  were  able 
to  bind  the  hands  of  Sampson.  Thus  their  course  be- 
comes unsteady,  fitful  awd  capricious — sometimes  they 
arc  wise,  sometimes  foolish — sometimes  honorable  and 
dignified,  sometimes  groveling  and  base.  While  a 
young  man's  course  is  thus  wayward  and  inconsistent, 
he  cannot  have  sclf-rcspcct — he  cannot  approve  of  him- 


4      PROFESSOR   hooper's   VALEDICTORY   ADDRESS. 

self — lie  cannot  be  happy.  The  better  principles  witli- 
in  him  lash  and  chastise  him  for  rebelling  against  them, 
and  he  is  degraded  in  his  own  eyes.  Yon  see  lowering 
discontent  upon  his  brow — you  see  his  inward  vexation 
venting  itself  in  unamiable  tonijiers  towards  his  com- 
panions, or  those  in  authority  over  him.  He  is  obliged 
to  make  the  humiliating  confession — 

Video  meliora  proboqite, 
Deteriora  sequor :  -    .      . 

I  see  the  right,  and  I  approve  it  too,  •   .. 

. '.  "     ■,      Condemn  the  wrong  and  yet  the  wrong  pursue,  -■     -    "  . 

How  different  the  aspect  and  the  feelings  of  the 
young  man  who  pursues  a  steady  system  of  virtue  ! 
Upon  him  the  sun  rises  bi'ightly  in  the  morning,  and 
that  sun  is  not  more  cheerful  tlian  are  his  spirits,  nor 
brighter  than  his  prospects.  No  corroding  remorse 
is  gnawing  at  his  heart — no  vicious  excesses  make  his 
blood  feverish,  his  temper  sour  and  irritable  and  his 
countenance  sad.  He  is  cheered  on  his  way  by  an  ap- 
proving conscience.  His  hopes  are  kept  gay  and  his 
energies  elastic,  by  regularity,  temjierance  and  indus- 
try, and  by  the  animating  consideration,  that  he  is 
mounting  upward — that  he  is  constantly  approaching 
the  bright  object  of  his  desires  by  an  undeviating  course 
of  rectitude  and  honor.  This  is  the  iiappy  and  hon- 
orable course,  to  which,  my  dear  young  friends,  I  would 
stimulate  and  impel  you;  these  are  the  bright  and  cheer- 
ing prospects  with  which  I  would  wish  your  collegiate 
career  to  be  gladdened  and  adorned.  And,  tlierefore, 
I  have  chosen  the  words  of  the  wisest  of  men,  as  em- 
bodying the  best  advice  I  cowld  possibly  give  you,  at 
this  final  hour  of  my  intercourse  with  you.  The  mo- 
tives which  those  words  present  to  the  young  man  for 


PROFESSOR    HOOPER  S    VALEUICTORT    ADDRESS.       5 

the  control  of  his  conduct,  arc,  tlic  fear  of  the  Lord 
and  the  honoring  of  parents.  Tlie  consequences  that 
will  result  fi'om  obedience  to  these  motives  are  depict- 
ed in  the  most  attractive  terms.  'J'hc  adornmeiit  of 
character  with  wliich  they  invest  a  young  man,  are 
likened  to  a  coronet  of  gcr.is  about  his  head  and  a 
chain  f)f  gold  about  his  neck.  "The  fear  of  the  Lord 
is  the  beginning  of  knowledge."  If  you  begin  with 
this,  you  will  be  prevented  from  falling  into  iri'etrieva- 
ble  errors  and  faults.  We  gain  knowledge  by  expe- 
rience, as  our  lives  proceed  ;  but  unhapj)ily,  it  often 
comes  too  late,  and  we  must  hear  the  penalty  of  our 
thoiiglitlessness  or  ignorance,  ever  afterwards.  How 
happy  is  it  then,  to  iiave  early  and  deeply  laid  in  our 
hearts  tlie  pious  fear  of  God — a  constant  sense  of  his 
presence — an  overawing  thought  constantly  whispering 
to  us,  "  Tiiou  God  seest  me."  This  will  do  more  to 
control  passion,  and  to  strengthen  conscience,  than  all 
our  spider-web  resolutions.  Let  a  young  man  once 
have  deeply  infixed  in  his  mind,  that  whenever  he  sins, 
he  insults  the  great  God  to  his  face,  tramples  on  his 
authority,  and  defies  his  wrath — and  that,  on  the  other 
hand,  when  he  resists  sinful  inclinations,  and  manfully 
])erforms  his  duty,  the  gi'eat  God  is  smiling  upon  liini 
and  helping  him,  and  will  finally  rewai'dhim — and  this 
simple  pi'inciple  will  do  more  to  keep  his  morals  uncon- 
taminated,  than  all  other  motives  whatever;  because  it 
operates  alike  in  private  as  in  public — it  fluctuates  not 
with  the  opinions  and  practices  of  those  who  happen  to 
be  our  associates — it  varies  not  with  the  circumstances 
in  which  we  arc  placed — hut  is  steady  and  invariable, 
like  the  movements  of  the  heavenly  bodies  around  their 
arand  centre. 


6         PROFESSOR  hooper's  VALEDICTORY  ADDRESS. 

But  it  is  well  to  enlist  all  the  motives  we  can  on  tlio 
side  of  virtue;  and  therefore,  the  inspired  writer  brings 
in,  next  after  the  fear  of  Grod,  a  i-cgard  totlie  autiiority 
and  liappiisess  of  Parents:  "My  son,  hear  the  insti'uc- 
tion  of  thy  father,  and  Ibrsakc  not  the  law  of  thy  mo- 
ther." "What  a  wise  and  happy  arrangement  of  Provi- 
dence is  it,  that  tiie  hnman  race  should  all  he  distributed 
into  families!  Of  how  many  countless  ber.efits  and  en- 
dearments is  it  productive!  But  fortius,  all  the  tender 
connexions  and  mutual  kindnesses  of  husband  and  wife, 
l)arcnt  and  child,  brother  and  sister,  would  hardly  be 
known,  or  very  feebly  felt,  in  comparison  with  what  is 
now  the  case.  Who  but  must  contemplate  with  pro- 
found veneration  ami  delight  the  beautiful  skill  displayed 
in  that  contrivance  of  the  author  of  our  nature,  whereby 
a  human  being,  when  he  is  brought  into  the  world  utterly 
helpless,  has  hel[)ers  ])r()vide(l  for  him  as  soon  as  he  is 
born? — the  powerful  instinct  of  maternal  love  amply. 
supi)lying  to  the  infantile  stranger  the  want  of  facul- 
ties to  ])rcservc  itself — and  rearing  it  u])  with  iintirijig 
vigilance  and  affection,  through  a  protracted  minority, 
iinvvorn  out  by  car-c  or  sickness,  unconqucrcd  by  ingra- 
titude and  undutifuliiess.  This  lt)iig  exei'cisc  of  paren- 
tal care  and  autiiority  sujjplies  to  the  Parent  on  the 
one  hand  a  dcligiitfiil  exercise  of  t!ie  domestic  afiections, 
and  a  pleasing  stimulus  to  action  ;  and  on  the  otlier 
hand,  trains  up  tlie  rising  generation  to  wholesome  sub- 
mission— to  yield  an  uiiquestioiiing  obedience  to  the 
dictation  and  guidance  of  our  Parents,  when  our  own 
inexperience  ami  headstrong  wills  make  their  sober 
judg-nent  and  discretion  so  necessary  to  us.  By  this 
wise  and  beautiful  arrangement  of  Providence,  the  child 
has,  during  tlic  whole  time  he  is  growing  up  to  matu- 


PHOFRSSOR  llOOriill's  VAXKDIC TORY  ADDRESS.         7 

rity,  t!ie  benefit  of  the  Parent's  care  and  wisdom, wliiie 
by  liis  love  and  gratitude  he  pays  hack  into  tliat  Parent's 
bosom  a  i-ich  harvest  of  joy.  Ali !  none  but  a  Parent  can 
feel  the  toi'ce  of  tiiose  words,  "A  wise  son  inaketli  a  glad, 
fatlier  ;  but  a  foolisli  son  is  t!ie  heaviness  of  his  mother." 
Next  to  the  honor  we  owe  to  God,  is  that  wiiic!i  Ave 
owe  to  our  Parents  ;  and  accordingly,  in  the  Decalogue, 
we  find,  immediately  after  an  enumeration  of  our  duty 
to  God,  the  precept:  "Honour  thy  father  and  ihy  mo- 
ther," to  which  is  annexed  the  promise  '*  thy  days  shall 
be  long." 

He  that  honors  his  Parents  will  be  preserved,  by 
that  sentiment  abiding  itj  his  heart,  from  any  conduct 
which  will  bring  grief  or  shame  upon  them,  and  the 
thought  of  their  a[)proving  smile  and  benediction  w'ill 
stimulate  to  a  course  of  honorable  effort,  and  sweeten 
all  bis  toils.  You  remember  the  fine  anecdote  that  is 
told  of  the  famous  Tlieban  commander,  Epaminondas, 
perhaps  the  greatest  man  that  Greece  produced:  Amidst 
the  congratulations  that  thronged  in  ujjon  him  after  he 
bad  beaten  the  Spartans,  at  Leuctra,  he  said  the  most 
pleasing  emotion  he  rcajied  froni  his  victory  was  the 
thought,  how  happy  bis  motlicr  would  be  made  by  his 
success.  And  is  there  a  youth  in  this  house,  insensible 
to  such  amiable  feelings  ?  Is  there  a  Student  in 
this  University,  who  dfses  not  feel  his  heart  tlsrob  with 
pleasure,  when  he  thinks  tiiat  the  family  circle  at  home 
w'ill  be  made  hapi)ier  by  tiic  arrival  of  tlie  letter  which 
infoi'ins  them  of  his  honwrablc  rank  in  his  Class,  and 
his  i['rej)roachable  character  as  a  member  of  College  ? 
And,  on  the  other  hand,  is  there  one,  whose  heart  is  not 
pained  by  the  expectation,  that  those  affectionate  Pa- 
rents and  friends,  who  are  indulging  in  the  delightful 


8        PROFESSOR  HOOPEU'S  VALEniCTORY  ADDRESS. 

belief  that  lie  is  doing  well  in  that  distant  seminary — 
that  he  is  coming  home,  by  and  by,  to  honour  the  family^ 
and  raise  its  name  to  more  distinction  tiianitnovv  bears — 
that  they  are  to  have  all  these  jdeasing  anticipations 
blasted,  and  their  countcna?ices  saddened  by  the  next 
monthly  report,  announcing  irregularity,  mis-improve- 
ment of  time,  atid  want  of  scholarshij)!  No  good  mind 
can  contemplate  such  an  issue  with  indifference,  can  think 
ofbeingthe  cause  of  overclouding  with  sadness  the  belov- 
ed group  gathered  around  the  fireside  at  home,  without  a 
pang  of  sorrow  and  a  blush  of  shame.  It  is  to  this  amiable 
and  virtuous  feeling  that  the  discipline  of  the  College 
appeals,  hoping  to  do  more  by  this  means  in  stimulating 
industry  and  restraining  vice,  than  by  any  other.  It  is 
honorable  to  you,  to  appeal  to  this  tender  regard  for  the 
peace  and  happiness  of  your  homes.  It  is  supposing 
you  possessed  of  the  finest  feelings  of  the  heart,  when 
your  officers  act  on  the  persuasion,  that  to  communicate 
favorable  or  unfavorable  intelligence  to  your  Parents, 
will  be  the  most  eiHcient  means  tiiey  can  employ  of  im- 
pelling you  forward  in  a  course  of  laudable  diligence  and 
regularity.  The  force  of  this  motive  must  be  appreciated 
by  those  who,  by  the  stroke  of  Providence,  have  been 
made  orphans.  What  youth,  thus  left  to  early  orphan- 
age, does  not  feel  one  strong  impulsive  consideration 
taken  away,  and  that  he  is  obliged  to  supply  its  place 
by  the  reflection  that  he  is  cast  upon  his  own  resources, 
and  must  struggle  or  sink? 

*' Fools,"  says  the  wise  man,  "despise  wisdom  and 
instruction."  Surely  no  one  present  would  consent  to 
merit  so  harsii  an  imputation  ;  and  yet  a  neglect  to  im- 
prove valuable  advantages  of  acquiring  wisdom,  is  tan- 
tamount to  despising  it.     It  is  my  wish,  therefore,  my 


^ 


IMiOFESSOU   HOOVER  S   VALEniCTORY  ADDRESS.         9 

(le;ir  young  friends,  to  i\v;\il  myscirot"  this  occasion,  to 
impress  upon  you  a  piopei*  estimate  of  the  enviable  pri- 
vileges of  your  present  academical  situation,  and  your 
consequent  i-csi)onsibilities.  I'liemistocles  counted  him- 
self happy  that  lie  belonged  to  the  most  illustrious  city 
of  Greece.  You  belong  to  the  National  Institution  of 
your  native  State.  It  is  patronized  by  the  first  citizens 
of  the  State.  It  is  an  object  of  their  frequent  attention 
and  of  their  annual  visitation.  Here  their  sons  meet 
to  form  friendships  for  life,  to  measure  their  minds  with 
each  otiier,  to  rouse  each  other's  powers  by  honorable 
competition,  to  wrestle  for  victory  on  the  bloodless  arena 
of  elegant  literature  and  profound  science.  Nations 
take  a  pride  in  collecting  into  one  grand  Repository  the 
finest  productions  of  genius,  in  all  branches  of  the 
Arts;  and  when  strangeis  come  among  them,  they  lead 
them  to  these  Repositories,  as  the  noblest  trophies  of 
national  honor.  But  a  collection  of  fine  minds  is  a  much 
nobler  object  of  contemplation  than  collections  of  pic- 
tures and  statues.  The  one  is  the  creative  spirit  that 
originates  the  bright  conception,  and  then  seizes  upon 
some  rude  mass  of  unconscious  matter,  where  it  may 
embody  and  perpetuate  that  bright  conception,  for  the 
gaze  and  homage  of  all  after  ages.  The  other  is  the 
mere  passive  material,  that  has  no  value  save  as  a  mir- 
ror to  reflect  the  godlike  mind  which  brought  it  into 
being.  Who  ever  received,  from  a  survey  of  all  the 
miracles  of  the  pencil  and  the  chisel,  which  adorn  the 
galleries  of  the  Louvre  and  the  Tuileries,  an  enjoy- 
ment to  be  compared  witii  that  divine  enthusiasm  which 
dilates  and  burns  in  the  bosoms  of  an  audience  witness- 
ing the  conflict  of  mighty  minds  in  some  great  national 
debate!     The  human  mind  never  knows  and  never  de- 


% 


10       PUOI'KSSOK  IIOOPEK  .S  VALEDICTOKY  ADURE&S. 

\elo[)c.s  its  puissance,  until  Ciillcd  into  glorious  struggli^ 
with  some  rival  intellect,  with  a  woi-kl  looking  on  in 
suspense,  howing  before  it  in  its  victoiious  niarch,  liko 
the  trees  ol'  the  forest  before  the  s^\eep  of  the  huri-icane. 
While  you  I'ead  the  campaigns  of  Gustavus  or  Charles 
XII.,  of  Napoleon  and  Wellington,  do  your  bosoms  ever 
catch  the  mania  of  military  renown,  and  make  you  pant 
(or  the  stern  and  perilous  edge  of  battle  ?  Let  me  point 
you  to  a  nobler  ambition!  Show  me  your  hero  who" 
niakes  it  his  pride  to  muster  on  the  deadly  field  myriads 
of  his  fellow  creatures  full  of  life  and  hope,  upon  whose 
I'atc  fathers  and  mothers  and  wives  and  sisters,  at  home, 
are  hanging  in  agony,  and  then,  with  a  single  wave  of 
his  hand,  bidding  his  ranks  of  cannon  to  blast  all  these 
tliousands  of  souls  into  etei'nity,  and  to  strow  the  earth 
with  tlieir  mangled  bodies  !  Do  you  admire  his  bright 
and  overwhelming  career  ?  Then  go  and  admii-e  the 
volcano  which  whelmed  Pomucii  and  lierculaneum  under 
its  rivei's  of  burning  lava;  go  and  woi'ship  the  earthquake 
which  swallowed  uj)  Lisbon  and  Alejjpo — go  and  pour 
forth  your  praises  upon  the  conflagration  which  devoured 
H  London  or  a  Moscow.  Yet  youthful  hearts  must  have 
something  splendid  and  something  grand  to  kindle  and 
expand  them.  Come  then,  and  I  will  ^Kjint  yovi  to 
something  which  I  will  give  you  leave  to  admii-e,  and 
j)ronn)t  you  to  en)ulate.  It  is  not  the  empurpled  hom- 
icide, who  finds  au  ignominious  glory  in  ruling  pale 
nations  by  tlie  terror  of  artillery  and  the  bayonet.  It 
is  the  orator,  who  spreads  his  sweet  encliantment  over 
millions  of  cultivated  intellects,  who  leads  captive  in 
his  silken  chains,  iiosts  of  \n  illing  minds,  ])roud  of  tlieir 
(  aj)tivity,  gloryiii,^,'  not  only  in  the  might  of  their  coii- 
<iuerur,  but  in  ihc  happiness  of  being  conquered — elated 


TROFESSOR  nOOTER's   VALEDICTORY  AnnRESS.       1  I 

%vit!i  the  inspiring  lliouglit  tiiat  it  is  almost  as  glorious 
to  own  the  swelling  hearts  that  can  feel  the  force  of  such 
eloquence,  as  to  possess  the  melodious  tongue  that  dis- 
tils it.  So  yon  fi'uit-trce,  that,  all  leafless  and  hare, 
begins  to  drink  in  the  golden  beam  of  spring,  feels  the 
vital  warmtii  distending  all  its  veins,  and  presently 
bursts  foi'th  in  luxuriant  beauty,  doing  honor  indeed  to 
the  solar  radiance  which  elicited  its  bloom,  but  rival- 
ing that  radiance  by  its  own  !  If  you  want  something 
wherewith  to  inflame  your  young  hearts  with  pleasing 
ardour,  the  history  of  your  own  country  will  furnish 
the  materials.  View  the  orators  of  our  country,  who 
have  arisen  in  times  of  Jiational  trouble,  with  no  aids 
of  l)ower  or  family  rank,  by  the  mere  force  of  mind 
nud  voice  i-ousing  up  and  uniting  the  minds  of  thousands 
in  a  general  enthusiasm  of  liberty,  making  the  rich  man 
5-un  and  ])our  his  treasures  at  their  feet — the  sti-ong 
man  offer  bis  rigiit  hand  to  grasp  the  sword  and  bis 
bi'east  to  meet  the  cannon  ball — and  even  the  timid 
breast  of  woman  willing  to  give  up  a  liusbaiul,  a  son 
or  a  brother,  for  the  common  weal.  These  are  the 
glorious  trophies  of  the  mind.  Here  arc  laurels 
which  even  u  christian  brow  need  )iot  be  ashamed  to 
wear.  But  will  you  say  that  such  honors  arc  high  a- 
bovc  our  reach — that  it  is  only  a  few  minds  of  the  finest 
inould  that  can  aspire  to  the  sublime  achievements  of 
eloquence  ?  I  admit  it  ;  but  if  we  have  these  prodigies 
of  nature  scattered  through  our  country,  our  Colleges 
are  the  i)laces  where  such  ])rodigies  are  to  be  made 
known.  These  are  the  sunny  spots  where  the  eaglets 
are  to  bask  and  first  try  their  young  wings  for  their 
ethereal,  voyages.  Our  Colleges  arc  the  gardens  where 
every  goodly  plant  must  be  pushed  to  its  full  maturity 


12      PROFESSOR  hooper's  VALEDICTORY  ADDRESS. 

of  size  and  beauty,  and  where  it  is  to  be  proved,  which 
nature  intended  as  her  magnolia-grandifloras,  and  which 
as  her  lowly  shrubs. 

Tliis  then  is  one  grand  benefit  which  our  Colleges 
ought  to  subserve,  to  bring  upon  one  common  tiieatre 
tlic  finest  minds  of  the  country.  They  ai'e  an  intellect- 
ual patesfra  where  all  the  agility  and  prowess  of  the 
State  throng  to  join  the  lists  and  contend  for  the  prize, 
and  where  each  athlete  is  sure  to  meet  antagonists  that 
will  put  his  strcngtii  to  tiie  proof.  The  country,  in  this 
way,  finds  outwiioare  lier  choicest  spirits  ;  and  indeed, 
it  is  the  generous  strife  of  her  youthful  sons  that  brings 
the  native  mind  to  its  highest  perfection,  as  it  is  only 
when  billow  dashes  against  billow  that  tliey  toss  their 
lieads  into  the  sky.  Such  j)ubiic  blessings  then,  inge- 
nuous youth,  it  is  in  your  power  to  make  our  Seminaries 
of  learning — Seminaries  literally  tlicy  will  be — nurse- 
ries, where  will  grow  goodly  trees  to  adorn  anil  to 
nourish  the  land  that  generates  them,  or  the  worthless 
bramble  and  the  deadly  aconite.  Ever  and  anon  will 
issue  from  these  academic  shades  some  master  mind, 
on  which  heaven  has  shed  its  selectest  influence,  and 
on  whose  birth  all  the  muses  smiled.  He  takes  his 
stand  on  the  high  theatre  of  the  nation.  His  country 
listens  to  his  voice — the  phalanx  of  honest  patriots 
welcome  their  Herculean  auxiliary — corruption  and 
venality  tremble  in  their  hiding-places,  like  Cacus  in 
liis  den,  lest  his  arm  should  drag  them  to  light  and 
extort  their  ill-gotten  spoil — the  vast  machine  of  gov- 
ernment is  moved  at  his  control,  or  if  stubborn  faction 
in  despite  of  him  will  drive  it  on,  he  hangs  upon  the 
wheels  and  retards  their  descent,  until  happier  counsels 
obtain  the  mastery,  and  the  country  is  saved.     In  the 


PROFESSOR  hooper's  VALEDICTORY  ADDRESS.       13 

mcaii  time,  tlic  State  that  gave  him  birth  on  her  soil, 
and  nurture  at  her  breasts,  feels  herself  more  than  re- 
l)aid  by  his  single  fame  for  all  her  expenditures,*  and 
his  Alma  Mater,  as  slic  hears  from  afar  the  trumpet  of 
his  renown  ring  among  hei*  classic  shades  and  grottos, 
calls  upon  her  younger  sons  to  sing  jjctans  of  ti'inmph 
for  their  elder  brother,  and  to  ft)llo\v  with  their  eyes 
and  their  stejjs  his  luminous  track  along  the  heavens. 
But  suppose  a  College  pi-oduces  a  splejulid  genius,  only 
once  in  a  century,  are  we  to  reckon  as  nothing  in  the 
mean  time  a  general  diffusion  of  scientific  curiosity  and 
literary  refinement  ?  Wiio  can  calculate  the  amount  of 
public  happiness  jiroduced  by  a  taste  for  books.  How 
many  minds  are  thereby  diverted  from  ruinous  dissi- 
])ation,  or  kept  from  rusting  in  inglorious  sloth  ?  As 
you  disseminate  a  taste  for  science  and  literature,  you 
multiply  the  readers  of  books  ;  and,  as  you  multiply 
readers  of  books,  you  stimulate  the  writers  of  them  to 
more  powerful  efforts,  and  you  breathe  into  them  a 
kindlier  inspiration.  The  theatre  widens  and  spreads 
perpetually  on  which  each  genius  is  to  figure — the  del- 
icacy of  taste  and  acuteness  of  criticism,  of  which  it 
must  stand  the  test,  will  ensure  all  the  vigour  of  thought 
and  exquisiteness  of  finish  which  it  is  possible  to  attain, 
and  while  mediocrity  is  overawed  and  kept  in  merited 
obscurity,  the  daring  pinion  of  real  genius  soars  higli 
above  the  shafts  of  criticism,  and  leaves  the  fraternity 

*It  is  said  that  when  Mr.  McUuffie  made  the  first  display  of  his  elo- 
quence in  the  Legislature  of  South  Carolina,  a  member  rose  in  his  place 
and  remarked,  that  if  the  College  of  that  State  had  reared  no  other 
youth,  to  have  reared  him  alone  was  ample  indemnity  to  the  State  for 
all  its  expenditures. 


14       PKOrESSOR  JIODI'EU'S   VALEDICTORY  ADDRESS. 

of  critics  like  tlic  rest  of  the  world,    fai*   below  in  lliis 
nctiier  sphere. 

Perhaps  some  of  you  may  think  that  a  College  might 
be  made  what  I  describe,  it  to  be,  the  nursery  of  genius, 
but  that  the  course  of  studies  is  not  the  best  calculated 
to  improve  the  mind.  Some  may  think  that  they  could 
dictate  a  better  course  themselves — tliat  so  much  time 
ought  not  to  be  given  to  the  acquisition  of  Ancient  Lan- 
guages, and  to  abstruse  Science.  These,  therefore, 
will  neglect  the  prescribed  course  of  study,  and  either 
give  themselves  up  to  indolence  or  i-ovc  at  random  among 
the  volumes  of  a  large  Library,  as  fancy  or  accident 
niny  determine.  Eut  sucii  ])ersons  should  reflect  tliat 
the  system  of  studies  usually  pursued  in  Colleges,  has 
been  the  result  of  the  combined  wisdom  of  tlie  world — 
that  men  of  every  variety  of  profession  and  chai'acter 
have  had  a  share  in  adjusting  tliis  system,  and  that  it 
is  not  likely  sucii  a  unanimity^  of  sentiment  would  have 
occurred  without  good  and  solid  i-easons.  Sometimes 
the  Classics  have  been  for  a  while  ex})!oded  fi'om  the 
Collegiate  course.  It  was  so,  1  believe,  in  France,  in 
revolutionary  times,  when  every  thing  that  was  old, 
was  for  that  reason  tiiought  to  htbad,  and  wiien  daring 
innovations  in  Government,  Religion  and  Education, 
were  the  reigning  madness  of  the  day.  iJut  after  tiie 
fever  of  Revolution  had  subsided,  France  returned  with 
ardour  to  the  cultivation  of  the  Classics,  and  saw  that 
they  were  an  essential  part  of  a  good  education.  The 
trutlj  is,  there  is  so  much  valuable  thought  and  so  much 
fine  writing  embodied  in  the  Greek  and  Roman  authors, 
that  it  is  my  firm  opinion,  if  they  were  excluded  from 
the  course  of  general  Education,  and  cpntined,  like  tiie 
masterpieces  of  Painting,  of  Sculpture,  and  of  Archi- 


i'      r 


VROFKSSOR  llOOPEll  S  VA7,ETHCT()KY  ADDliESS.        IS 

tcctiii'c,  to  certain  favDred  cities  of  Europe,  yon  would 
see  tlie  literati  of  the  world  performing;  pilgrimages  to 
these  cities,  to  spend  years  in  the  acquisition  of  those, 
languages  which  contained,  locked  up  in  them,  the  finest 
models  of  taste  and  genius  that  the  woild  has  produced  ; 
just  as  our  Painters  and  Sculptors  consider  it  necessary 
to  visit  Italy  and  Greece,  to  take  lessons  in  those  arts 
from  the  great  masters  of  antiquity.  All  the  dificrence 
between  that  and  the|)i'escnt  state  of  things,  would  be, 
that  the  beauties  of  Homer  and  Yii-gil,  of  Cicero  and 
Xenophon,  whicli  arc  now  accessible  to  every  studious 
youth,  whose  mind  is  alive  to  tiie  charms  of  composition, 
would  then  be  the  envied  privilege  of  a /cw  who  could 
ti'avel  abroad,  and  tell  to  sighing  devotees  at  home,  of 
sweets  and  beauties  that  they  must  not  see  or  taste. — 
A  visiter  to  the  Iliad  would  talk  of  it,  as  a  traveller  to 
Egypt  now  talks  of  a  visit  to  the  Pyramids, 

And  with  respect  to  Mathematics,  there  is  the  same 
general  consent  over  tiie  world,  that  if  the  minds  of 
youth  arc  to  be  ti-ained  to  a  power  of  clear,  consecutive 
thought,  to  the  love  of  rigid  demonstration,  to  a  faculty 
of  close,  logical  argumentation,  this  kind  of  study  is 
admirably  fitted  to  that  end.  But,  independently  of 
this  recommendation  of  Mathematics  as  a  method  of 
•lisciplining  the  mind,  it  is  the  peculiar  glory  of  that 
Science,  that  it  has  ojjcned  to  our  astonished  view  all 
the  wonders  of  Astronomy,  revealed  the  great  system 
of  nature's  works,  disentiiralled  the  public  mind  of  the 
terrors  occasioned  by  ecli(!ses  of  the  heavenly  bodies, 
and  made  tiie  celestial  piienomena  no  longer  subjects 
of  r.uite  amazcincnt  and  supej-stitious  dread,  but  of 
proud  delight  at  the  nobleness  of  our  ca})acities  and  of 
l>iouhi  adoration  at  the  stujiendous  greatness  of  nature's 


16       PROFESSOR  hooper's  VALEDICTORY  ADDRESS. 

architect.  In  these  sublime  (liscovet'ics  of  physics. 
Mathematics  lias  led  the  way.  anil  l)ehol(l  her  great  higli 
priest,  Newton,  leading  t!ie  procession,  with  torcli  in 
hand,  guiding  the  explorers  of  nature  thro'  the  dark 
regions  of  her  undiscovered  wonders  !  I  might,  if  time 
allowed,  young  gentlemen,  thus  enlarge  upon  all  the 
branches  of  knowledge  which  are  made  successively 
the  subjects  of  your  study.  I  miglit  show  you  how,  af- 
ter your  memory,  your  discrimination,  your  fancy  arc 
cultivated  by  the  study  of  the  finest  models  of  ancient 
genius,  and  after  your  intellectual  powers  have  been 
tusked  and  invigorated  by  a  manly  grappling  with  the 
subtle  problems  of  Mathematics,  you  are  then  conduct- 
ed to  the  walks  of  fhilosopliy,  both  physical  and  ethi- 
cal. Your  juvenile  curiosity  is  excited  and  rewarded 
by  ])ursuing  the  footsteps  of  Nature  into  the  very  pen- 
elralia  of  her  temple — exploring  with  delight  and  ever 
new  amazement  the  wise  and  beautiful  laws  which  the 
Creator  has  enstamped  on  every  work  of  his  hands,  and 
by  which  he  binds  them  all  together  in  one  harmonious 
universe — learning  in  a  few  years  what  the  arduous 
and  collective  labors  of  Chemists,  and  Mineralogists, 
and  Botanists,  and  Naturalists  of  every  descri[)tion 
have  treasured  up  by  piecemeal  through  whole  lives  of 
unceasing  research. 

And,  as  if  the  external  world,  with  all  its  ten  thou- 
sand objects  of  curiosity,  were  not  enough  to  fill  your 
minds  and  limit  the  field  of  your  enquii'ies,  lo!  another 
world  of  miracles  is  opened  wi/AfH  you!  The  mind, 
already  intoxicated  and  oppressed  witli  the  riclies  of 
its  knowledge,  drawn  frojii  external  nature,  is  now 
called,  with  introverted  visi(ni,  to  contemplate  its  own 
uusterious  and  marvellous  constructure — to  studv  the 


A-itDtESSOR  HOOPEIl's  VALEDICTORY  ADDRESS.       17 

subtle  and  conij)]icatc(l  inovcinoits  of  thought  and  feel- 
ing— to  look  into  the  daiic  chambci's  of  imagery,  and 
trace  the  nice  machinery  of  ideas,  and  sec  in  these  deep 
foundations  of  the  mind  the  embryo  features  and  linea- 
ments of  tliose  characters  wliich  afterwards  develope 
themselves  to  bless  oi-  to  vex  our  sjiecies.  Who  is  it, 
that,  u})on  his  first  inti'oduction  to  the  Philosoj)hy  of 
the  mind,  has  not  felt  sometliing  of  tlie  same  delightful 
wonder  which  Columbus  felt,  when  he  had  discovered 
a  new  world,  all  whose  inhabitants  and  products  were 
different  from  any  thing  he  had  seen  before? 

Nor  are  your  researches  bounded  hei'e.  From  con- 
templating man  as  an  individual,  you  are  led  on  by  the 
study  of  ethics,  political  econ(nny  and  law,  to  contem- 
plate him  as  one  of  a  vast  brothei'hood — all  individuals 
as  single  links  of  an  immense  chain,  by  a  happy  neces- 
sity indissolubly  connected  with  each  other,  and  there- 
fore subjected  to  various  laws  and  obligations  as  mem- 
bers of  families,  as  citizens  of  a  nation,  and  then  as 
citizens  of  a  whole  family  of  nations.  It  is  the  object, 
then,  of  these  dignified  and  expansive  studies,  which 
meet  you  at  your  entrance  upon  the  threshold  of  man- 
hood, when  your  rij)ening  intellect  and  your  sober  judg- 
ment begin  to  qualify  you  for  profound  and  comprehen- 
sive leflections — it  is  the  object,  1  say,  of  these  studies, 
of  Ethics,  Political  Economy  and  Law,  to  set  before 
you  the  various  relations  of  man  to  man,  the  mutual 
obligations  and  dependencies  of  all  members  of  society, 
thus  to  prepare  you  to  act  your  part  with  propriety, 
first  in  your  little  circle  at  home,  then  as  patriots  bound 
to  love  and  serve  the  country,  the  blessings  of  whose 
Government  you  enjoy,  and  lastly,  should  the  voice  of 
that  country  invest  you  with  lier  dignities,  to  prepare 

.  ■■■■■■    :-!.^-   •■--.-      ■    -     ■  :^:.: 


18       PKOPESSOIl  HOOPER  S  VALEDICTORY  ADBUESS. 

you  for  statesmen  and  Lawgivers,  whose  counsels  are  4*.. 
to  affect  tlie  destinies  of  your  owji  counti-y,  and  even  of 
the  world. 

Can  you  contemplate,  young  gentlemen,  these  liigli 
j)i'erogalives  for  which  a  liberal  education  will  fit  you, 
and  to  which  the  exigencies  of  your  country  may  call 
you,  without  feeling  your  bosoms  swell  witli  larger  emo- 
tions, and  ali'eady  giving  birth  to  the  godlike  resolu- 
tion, that  you  will  not,  by  vice  or  indolence,  blast  these 
magnificent  jjrospects  ?  Does  it  not  fire  your  youthful 
imagination,  to  reflect  that  you  are  citizens  of  a  pios-  - 
])erous  and  powerful  Republic,  where  no  invidious  dis-  . 
tinctions  of  Patrician  and  Plebeian  give  weakness  the 
ascendancy  over  strengh,  and  folly  the  control  ovci- 
wisdom — where  mind  is  the  empress  over  the  million, 
and  where  a  vigorous  and  cultivated  intellect  may  raise 
you  to  the  higliest  honors  of  your  country?  With  such 
prospects  before  you,  with  such  ennobling  motives  to^ 
excite  and  impel  you,  we  should  expect,  instead  of  dull 
sloth  or  debasing  sensuality,  rather  some  excess  of  glo- 
rious enthusiasm — some  pardonable  extiavagance  of 
youthful  ambition — some  splendid  temerity,  like  that 
of  PiiiBTON  aspiring  to  snatch  the  reins  of  the  solar 
chariot,  before  his  hand  had  vigor  or  skill  to  manage 
the  fire-breathing  coursers.  I  wonder  every  youth  who 
has  within  himself  the  sparks  of  genius,  and  the  ele-  ' 
inents  of  high  capability,  does  not  have  them  roused 
into  a  consuming  flame,  banishing  his  sleep  and  wast- 
ing his  fiame,  fanned  as  they  are  by  the  strong  breath 
of  fame  wafting  the  praises  of  the  living  and  the  dead. 
The  military  exj)loits  of  Miltiades  raised  such  a  tu- 
mult in  the  breast  of  the  young  TniiMisTOCLEs.  that 
he  wa5  found  walking   about  tite  streets  of  Atlien.i  tu 


rROFESSOlt  llOOPi-U's   VAJ^lil)  IcroUT  ADUKESS.       ]9 

the  (lead  of  night,  and  delarcd  that  •'  the  trophies  of 
MiLTiADEs  would  iiot  let  him  sleep."  So  inethinks, 
shou'd  it  be  with  every  American  youtli  who  has  a  so 
much  grander  theatre  to  act  upon — not  some  little  At- 
tica to  hear  of  his  exploits  and  to  resound  his  praises, 
but  an  empire,  reaching  from  Ocean  to  Ocean,  whose  des- 
tinies he  may  be  called  to  wield,  and  wit!»  whose  high- 
est honors  he  may  one  d;iy  be  crowned.  Oh,  my  young 
friends,  cherish  these  higii  aspii-atiojis.  If  it  is  not 
your  fate  to  rise  to  high  station,  resolve  to  deserve  it. 
Aiin  higli,  even  though  your  shafts  may  not  rise  as 
higii  as  your  lofty  mark.  He  that  aims  at  the  sun, 
will  shoot  higher  than  he  who  aims  at  an  earthly  ob- 
ject. Oh !  do  not  ye,  w!io  daily  drink  inspiring  draughts 
from  the  Castalean  spring,  ever  turn  those  lips  t(» 
Circe's  empoisoned  bowl  which  transforms  men  into 
swine.  Let  the  ethereal  spirits  among  you  not  be  kept 
down  by  the  grosser  particles,  but  rise  to  higher  re- 
gions and  draw  those  particles  uj)  with  them.  Let  not 
the  eagles  be  content  like  the  spari'ows  to  flutter  about 
the  hedges,  but  ])lume  themselves  for  flight  among  the 
clouds  and  bear  the  sparrows  on  their  rapid  pinions. — 
It  is  not  a  selfish,  mischievous  ambition,  to  which  I 
would  exhort  you.  It  is  an  iinitation  of  your  heavenly 
Father  in  diffusive  benevolence,  it  is  that  love  of  lau- 
dable excellence  which  has  the  sanction  of  an  Apostle's 
pen,  when  he  animates  us  to  tlie  pursuit  of  "  whatso- 
ever things  arc  true,  whatsoever  things  are  honest, 
whatsoever  things  are  just,  w  hatsoever  things  are  pure, 
whatsoever  are  lovely,  whatsoever  things  are  of  good 
report,  if  there  be  any  virtue  and  if  tliere  be  any  praise." 
Let  evei'y  hojiorablo  young  man  determine  to  find  out 
by  strenuous  exertion  what  gifts  nature  has  bestowed 


.4 


20      PROFESSOR  hooper's  VALEDICTORY  AUDRKSS. 

Upon  him,  and  resolve  to  use  them  for  the  benefit  of  his 
country  and  of  mankind.  Let  liim  place  before  his 
mind  high  standards  of  excellence,  by  perusing  the  bi- 
ographies of  the  great  and  good,  and  let  his  mind  thirst 
after  valuable  knowledge,  instead  of  cramming  and  vi- 
tiating itself  with  the  trash  that  is  ])oiired  foith  daily 
in  such  pernicious  abundance  fi-om  tlie  press.  If  you 
faithfully  improve  the  opportunities  you  hereeiijoy,  you 
will  have  the  elements  of  almost  all  useful  knowledge, 
and  the  stamina  of  a  vigorous  mental  constitution. — 
The  first  you  may  afterwards  use  as  a  foundation  for 
indefinifo  futui'e  improvement,  and  as  the  instrument 
for  future  acquisitions.  I1ic  latter  will  serve  you  to 
grapple  with  every  occurring  difticulty.  I  would  not 
forbid  all  books  of  amusement  ami  all  excursions  into 
the  fields  of  fa)icy  and  fiction.  But  beware  lest  these 
seduce  you  from  the  hardy  and  invigorating  studies  of 
the  College  course.  Remember,  that  although  it  is 
pleasing  to  devour  volume  after  volume,  and  it  is  flat- 
tering to  our  pride  to  go  over  a  great  deal  of  ground, 
yet  it  is  quite  possible  to  do  this  without  strengthening 
the  mind — nay  it  is  the  very  way  to  eisfeeble  the  mind, 
to  encumber  it  with  a  vast  mass  of  other  men's  thoughts, 
without  obliging  it  to  exert  itself  in  some  jjroduction  of 
its  own.  Such  a  man  may  accumulate  facts,  and  he 
may  be  accurate  in  his  oj)inions  so  tar  as  his  guides 
reach  ;  but  i)ut  him  upon  his  own  resources,  biing  him 
into  some  new  situation  where  he  will  have  to  depend 
upon  himself,  and  he  will  utterly  fail. 

Indulge  not  then  in  discontent  with  your  allotted 
studies,  nor  imagine  you  can  strike  out  a  better  course 
for  your  mental  improvement.  If  you  do,  you  will  for- 
ever afterwards  regret  it  in  vain.     If,  while  at  College, 


PROrESSOR  hooper's  YALEUICTOUY  ADDRESS.       21 

you  lav  well  the  foundation,  you  can  afterwards  ad- 
vantageously rear  upon  it  a  superstructure  of  any  height. 
But  if  the  foundation  be  neglecfed  in  youth,  the  injury 
is  irremediable,  for  neither  the  timcnoi'tiie  inclination 
of  matui'er  life  will  ever  allow  of  your  laying  it  anew. 
T  am  happy,  young  gentlemen,  to  be  able  to  congrat- 
iilate  you  on  tlie  inci-casing  ])rosperity  of  the  College. 
Having  been  acquainted  with  it  from  a  boy,  in  1804, 
I  am  ])repared  to  ap])reciatc  its  growth  and  im])rove- 
ment.  Youi'  oi)])ortunities  arc  far  greater  than  mine 
were  when  I  passed  thi'ough  my  College  course.  The 
education  which  our  Jlma  JTaier  now  offers  to  her  sons, 
is  much  moi-e  extensive  and  thoi'ough  tlian  it  then  was, 
and  I  feel  to  this  day  the  disadvantages  of  the  partial 
and  limited  Education  which  was  then  given  here. — 
The  funds  of  the  Institution  were  too  small  to  j)rovide 
adequate  instruction.  But  now  there  is  a  happy  change. 
The  revenue  is,  I  trust,  certain  and  liberal,  and  each 
department  may  be  supplied  with  necessai*y  instruction. 
You  will  have  the  advantage  of  pi-osccuting  your  Edu- 
cation under  an  able  and  devoted  Faculty.  And  in 
taking  leave  of  you,  my  dear  young  friends,  let  me  be- 
speak your  high  affection  and  re3|)ect  for  your  estima- 
ble Preceptors.  They  arc  devoted  to  your  good — their 
days  and  nights  are  given  to  your  impr(>vement.  Re- 
ward them  tor  their  labors  of  love  by  growing  in  wis- 
tlom  and  virtue  under  their  culture.  No  greater  joy 
can  they  know,  than  to  see  you  fine  scholars,  amiable 
and  gentlemanly  in  your  deportment,  and  of  sound  and 
virtuous  principles.  Let  me  exhoi-t  you  to  a  conduct 
worthy  of  your  stati(»n  and  the  space  you  fill  in  the 
public  eye.  Consider  w  ho  you  are  and  what  is  expect- 
ed of  you — 
^    • .        Sumite  superHam  quaesitam  mentis. 


22       PKOFiiSSOll  HOOrEK's  VALiiUICTOU Y  ADDHESS. 

Ydii  arc  not  the  members  of  some  little  School  iti 
some  obscure  corner  of  tlie  Republic.  You  arc  the 
flower  of  her  puberty,  brougiit  to  t!ic  heart  of  her  ter- 
ritory, and  jilaced  in  possession  of  the  best  means 
Avhich  the  resources  of  the  State  could  furnish  for  your 
mental  improvement.  The  interest  of  more  than  SlOO,- 
000  is  annually  expended  upon  you,  and  tlie  Republic 
will  tliink  herself  amply  recompeiK;ed  for  the  disburse- 
ment, if  you  act  wortiiiiy  of  her  character  an<I  bring 
lionoi*  to  !ier  name.  She  Ujakes  her  chief  Magistrate, 
ex  offido.  the  head  of  that  Senate  to  whose  care  you  arc 
confided.  Slic  bids  hiui  take  care  (d'  her  youtii,  as  her 
choicest  treasure.  And  \\\\{^n  one  td"  her  Chief  Magis- 
trates withdraws  from  the  helm  of  Goxernnjent,  he 
counts  it  no  descent  from  his  dignity — no  suspension  of 
the  exercise  of  his  |)atriotism,  to  come  to  these  retired 
shades  to  train  up  tlic  youth  of  the  Stiite^  for  her  future 
exigencies.  Thus  y(;u  see,  young  gentlemen,  ymi  a!*e 
invested  by  your  country  with  a  dignity  ami  importance 
as  the  national  protegees,  which  him!  you  to  fulfil  her 
just  exj)ectations.  She  expects  of  you  to  carry  hence - 
and  disseminate  thi'ough  all  her  borders  enlightened 
minds,  honorabie  principles,  dignified  manners,  ami  , 
virtuous  morals.  If  you  diffuse,  wherever  you  go, 
these  ornaments  of  chai'acter  among  her  [)oi)ulation, 
she  will  bless  you,  she  will  honor  you  ;  the  Universi- 
ty will  be  the  pride  and  tiic  joy  of  the  State;  Parents 
will  rejoice  to  send  their  sous  hither,  and  your  raid<s 
will  be  always  filled  with  the  best  youth  of  the  State. 
But  if  you  degenerate  into  vice — if  dissipatimi  becomes 
fashionable — if  habits  of  profanity,  gaming,  drinking 
and  debauchery  are  here  contracted,  and  cari'ied  abroad 
into  the  community,  to  poison  the  nmrals  and  taint  the 
health  of  the  body  iiolitic,  your  countiy  will  spurn  you 


^ 
#■ 


PROFEsson  hooper's  valedictory  address.     23 

as  recreant  children  ;  tlic  State  will  ablioi'  its  own  Uni- 
versity ;  virtuous  and  orderly  young  men  will  seek 
safer  asylums  for  their  education,  and  a  meagre  rem- 
nant of  revellers  will  be  all  that  w  ill  be  left  to  this  flour- 
ishing institution!  I  know  you  would  devoutly  depre- 
cate such  a  reverse.  See,  then,  that  you  act  your  parts 
in  such  a  manner  that  your  ^Slma  Malcr  shall  be  proud 
of  her  sons,  and  that  her  sons  shall  not  be  ashunicd  of 
theii'  mother. 

But  I  sliould  ill  discharge  my  duty  as  a  Minister  of 
Religion,  if  I  stopped  here,  and  did  not  urge  you  to  still 
higher  duties,  and  under  more  solemn  sanctions  than 
any  I  have  yet  mentioned.  You  must  not  foi'get  that 
you  have  a  Creator  to  wliom  you  arc  responsible,  and 
to  love  whom  supremely  is  the  first  law  of  your  being: 
"  Thou  Shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heait'* 
is  declared  by  the  Saviour  of  the  world  to  he  "  the  first 
and  great  Commandment."  Let  me  then  fervently  ex- 
hort you  (perhaps  it  may  be  the  last  lime)  to  make  the 
favoi-  of  God  your  highest  pursuit,  as  that  only  which 
can  make  you  safe  and  happy — without  which  ungov- 
erned  ])assion  and  an  unquiet  conscience  will  ever  dis- 
turb the  sci'enity  of  your  minds.  As  every  thing  which 
1  could  say  on  this  sul)ject  has  been  so  often  repeated, 
])crmit  me  to  close  this  Address  wiih  the  dying  testi- 
mony of  two  eminent  men.  The  first  is  tiiat  of  Arthuii 
Young,  Esq,  of  England,  the  corrcspo)ident  of  Gen. 
Washington: 

"  I  will  not  lay  clown  the  pen,"  says  he,  "  without  most  earnestly  en- 
treating those  who  are  but  entering  on  \\k  to  be  persuaded  to  pay  a  con- 
slant  attention  to  the  duties  of  Religion,  especially  the  four  great  means 
of  grace — prayer,  public  worship,  reading  the  Scriptures  of  truth,  and 
as  much  as  circumstances  will  permit,  meditating  on  their  contents.  I 
con  with  truth  assure  sucli,  that  when  I  reflect  oii  '.he  various  errors  and 
miscarriages  of  my  lite,  prr%ious  to  my  jnind  taking  a  serious  turn,  I  aju 


24      PROFESSOR  hooper's  TALEDrcTORY  ADDRESS. 

clearly  convinced  that  I  should  have  avoided  many,  had  I  listened  with 
more  submission  to  the  persuasion  of  a  most  valuable  and  pious  mother, 
whom  I  did  not  learn  sufficiently  to  esteem  till  many  years  after  I  had 
lost  her;  and  I  speak  thus  in  allusion  both  to  temporal  and  eternal  objects. 
In  truth,  there  is  but  one  principle  that  ought  to  govern  mankind — to 
think,  speak  and  act  in  such  a  manner  as  will  please  God,  and  to  avoid 
all  that  will  offend  him.  Oh !  my  young  frien-ds,  let  me  assure  you,  that 
though  I  have  experienced  some  highly  flattering,  and  partaken  of  many 
brilliant  scenes,  yet  would  I  not  exchange  the  consolation  and  hope  which 
Christianity  gives  me, while  blind  and  fast  descending  to  the  grave,  for  the 
most  pleasing  moments  of  my  former  life,  with  re-juveniscence  to  enjoy 
them.  The  tranquility  of  a  mind  gradually  reposing  in  the  clearest  hope 
of  a  better  world,  is  an  enjoyment  that  cannot  be  purchased  at  too  dear  a 
rate.  It  is  nof  easy,  sufficiently  to  value  the  peaceful  close  of  a  busy  life, 
provided  that  repose  is  founded  on  the  bright  views  of  Christian  hope, 
looking  beyond  the  grave  ;  (he  mist  of  doubts  and  perplexities  dissipated 
before  the  meridian  splendour  of  Gospel  truth;  the  storms  of  life  soften- 
ing into  silence;  the  delirium  of  pleasure  and  the  dreams  of  dissipation 
fled,  and  the  freed  mind  resigned  to  the  dictates  of  reason;  the  wounds 
of  conscience  cured  by  the  balm  of  eternal  love;  the  heait,  lacerated  by 
the  loss  of  those  once  so  dear  to  us,  in  full  expectation  of  arc-union,  ne- 
ver more  to  be  broken;  every  angry  passion  hushed  into  peace;  the  evils 
of  life  sunk  in  resignation  to  the  divine  will;  the  fervent  desires  of  the 
renovated  heart  approaching  the  verge  of  never  endmg  enjoyment ;  and 
the  whole  soul  reposing  on  the  bosom  of  a  Saviour's  love.  These  ought 
to  be  the  privileges  of  a  real  Christian,  and  will  be  so  in  proportion  to  the 
steadiness  of  his  faith." 

The  second  testimony,  which  will  close  this  already  too 
long  Address,  is  that  of  the  late  Dr.  Paysox  of  Portland,  in 
the  State  of  Maine  : 

"  On  Sabbath  day,  Oct.  7th,  says  his  biographer,  it  was  the  privileged 
lot  of  the  young  men  of  the  Society  to  assemble,  at  his  request,  in  his 
chamber  when  he  addressed  them  in  substance  as  followa  :  "  My  young 
friends,  you  will  all  one  day  be  obliged  to  embark  on  the  same  voyage, 
on  which  I  am  just  embarking  ;  and,  as  it  has  been  my  especial  employ- 
ment, during  my  past  life,  to  recommend  to  you  a  Pilot  to  guide  you 
through  this  voyage,  I  wished  to  tell  you  what  a  precious  Pilot  he  is, 
that  you  may  be  induced  to  choose  him  for  yours.  I  felt  desirous  that 
you  might  see  that  the  Religion  I  have  preached  can  support  me  in  death. 
You  know  that  I  have  many  ties  that  bind  me  to  earth — a  family  to  whom 


PROFESSOR  HOOPER  S  VALEDICTORY  ADDRESS.       £5 

I  am  strongly  attached,  and  a  people  whom  I  love  almost  as  much.  But 
the  other  world  acts  like  a  stronger  magnet,  and  draws  my  heart  away 
from  this.  Death  comes  every  night  and  stands  by  my  bed  side  in  the 
form  of  terrible  convulsions,  every  one  of  wliich  threatens  to  separale  the 
«oul  from  the  body.  These  continue  to  grow  worse  and  worse  till  every 
bone  is  almost  dislocated  with  pain,  leaving  me  with  the  certainty  that  I 
•hall  have  it  all  to  endure  again  the  next  night.  Yet,  while  my  body  is 
thus  tortured,  the  soul  is  perfectly,  perfectly  happy  and  peaceful — more 
happy  than  I  can  possibly  express  to  you.  I  lie  here  and  feel  these  con- 
vulsions extending  higher  and  higher,  without  the  least  uneasiness  ;  but 
my  soul  is  filled  with  joy  unspeakable,  I  seem  to  swim  in  a  flood  of 
glory  which  God  pours  down  upon  me.  And  I  know,  I  know,  that  my 
happiness  is  but  begun  ;  I  cannot  doubt  that  it  will  last  forever.  And 
now  is  this  all  delusion  ]  Is  it  a  delusion  which  can  fill  the  soul  to  over- 
flowing with  joy  in  such  circumstances]  If  so,  it  is  surely  a  delusion 
tetter  than  any  reality.  But  no,  it  is  not  a  delusion  ;  I  feel  that  it  is  not. 
I  do  not  merely  know  that  I  shall  enjoy  all  this — I  enjoy  it  now.  My 
young  friends,  were  I  master  of  the  whole  world,  what  could  it  do  for  me 
like  this  1  Were  all  its  wealth  at  my  feet,  and  all  its  inhabitants  striving 
to  make  mc  happy,  what  could  they  do  for  me  1  Nothing  I  nothing. — 
Now  all  this  happiness  I  trace  back  to  the  Religion  I  have  preached,  and 
to  the  time  when  that  groat  change  took  place  in  my  heart,  which  I  have 
often  told  you  is  necessary  to  salvation,-  and  I  now  tell  you  again,  that 
without  this  change  you  cannot,  no,  you  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God. 
And  now,  standing  as  I  do,  on  the  ridge  which  separates  the  two  worlds, 
feeling  what  intense  happiness  or  misery  the  soul  is  capable  of  sustaining; 
judging  of  your  capacities  by  my  own,  and  believing  that  those  capacities 
will  be  filled  to  the  very  brim  with  joy  or  wretchedness  forever  ;  can  it  bo 
wondered  at,  that  my  heart  yearns  over  you,  my  children,  that  you  may 
choose  life,  and  not  death  !  Is  it  to  be  wondered  at,  that  I  long  to  pre- 
sent every  one  of  you  with  a  full  cup  of  happiness,and  see  you  drink  iti  that 
I  long  to  have  you  make  the  same  choice  which  I  made,  and  from  which 
springs  all  my  happinessi  A  young  man  about  to  leave  the  world,  exclaim- 
ed thus,  "The  battle's  fought !  The  battle's  fought !  The  battle's  fought ! 
but  the  victory  is  lost  forever."  But  I  can  say,  the  battle  is  fought,  and 
the  victory  is  won  !  The  victory  is  won  forever.  I  am  going  to  bathe  in 
an  ocean  of  purity,  and  benevolence,  and  happiness  to  all  eternity.  And 
now,  my  children,  let  rae  bless  you,  not  with  the  blessing  of  a  poor  fee- 
We  dying  man,  but  with  the  blessing  of  the  Infinite  God." 
4 


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